Remote control via local area network

ABSTRACT

A method and system for remote control of multimedia content using a multimedia content distribution network (MCDN) is configured to establish a connection between a customer premises equipment (CPE) gateway and a local area network (LAN) device that is a personal user device. A user of the LAN device may be authenticated. Responsive to user input, the LAN device may send remote control messages corresponding to remote control functions for an MCDN terminal device. The CPE gateway may determine a network address for the MCDN terminal device, and forward the remote control messages to the addressed MCDN terminal device. The LAN device may so remotely control the addressed MCDN terminal device.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to remote control and, more particularly,to remote control of multimedia content using a multimedia contentdistribution network (MCDN).

2. Description of the Related Art

Various remote controls, including wireless and mobile devices, may beused with customer premises equipment (CPE) that are part of orconnected to a MCDN to control viewing of multimedia content. Typicalremote controls are dedicated devices that are used in a shared andanonymous manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of selected elements of an embodiment of amultimedia distribution network;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of selected elements of an embodiment of amultimedia distribution network;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of selected elements of an embodiment of amultimedia handling device;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of selected elements of an embodiment of amultimedia distribution network device;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of selected elements of an embodiment of amultimedia distribution network;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of selected elements of an embodiment of alocal area network device; and

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating selected elements of an embodimentof a method for remote control.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S)

In one aspect, a disclosed method for enabling a user to remotelycontrol multimedia content received over an MCDN, includes receiving,from a local area network (LAN) device, a remote control messageaddressed to an MCDN terminal device coupled to a CPE gateway, while theremote control message may indicate a remote control function executableby the MCDN terminal device. The remote control message may be receivedafter the LAN connection between the LAN device and the CPE gateway tothe MCDN terminal device has been established and the LAN device and theMCDN terminal device have been paired. The method may further includeprocessing the remote control message, including sending the remotecontrol message to the addressed MCDN terminal device. The LAN devicemay be a personal computer or a mobile electronic device.

In certain embodiments, the CPE gateway may be configured to receive andprocess remote control messages addressed to more than one MCDN terminaldevice coupled to the CPE gateway. The MCDN terminal device may be amultimedia-handling device coupled to a display device. The MCDNterminal device may be a gaming console coupled to a display device. Inanother embodiment, the MCDN terminal device may be a set-top boxcoupled to a display device. The remote control function may includeselecting a desired multimedia program for at least one of: recording,scheduling, and viewing. The LAN connection may be a fixed networkconnection or a wireless network connection.

In particular embodiments, the method further includes determining anidentity associated with a user of the LAN device, while the processingfurther includes authorizing the remote control message based on thedetermined identity.

In a further aspect, a disclosed CPE for use within a clientconfiguration of an MCDN includes a processor, a LAN adapter, awide-area network (WAN) adapter coupled to an MCDN server, and memorymedia accessible to the processor, including instructions executable bythe processor. The processor instructions may be executable to determinean identity associated with a user of a LAN device connected via the LANadapter to the CPE gateway, and receive, from the LAN device, a remotecontrol message indicative of a remote control function for an MCDNterminal device coupled to the CPE gateway. Based in part on theidentity, the processor instructions may further be executable todetermine that the user is authorized to control the MCDN terminaldevice, and send the remote control message to the MCDN terminal device.

In some embodiments, the CPE further includes a local wireless router,and while the LAN connection may be a wireless network connection viathe local wireless router. The wireless network connection maysubstantially conform to at least one wireless network standard definedby: IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.15.1, and IEEE 802.15.4. The remote controlmessage may include an alphanumeric user input.

In certain instances, the processor executable instructions to determinesaid identity may further include processor executable instructions touse the WAN adapter to query the MCDN server for an MCDN user accountassociated with an identifier for the LAN device.

In yet another aspect, disclosed computer-readable memory media includeexecutable instructions for remote control of multimedia contentprovided by an MCDN. The instructions may be executable to determine anidentity associated with a user of a LAN device connected via the LANadapter to a CPE gateway, and receive, from the LAN device, a remotecontrol message addressed to an MCDN terminal device coupled to the CPEgateway and paired to the LAN device, while the remote control messagemay be indicative of a remote control function for the MCDN terminaldevice. Based in part on the identity, the instructions may also beexecutable to determine whether the user is authorized to execute theremote control function on the addressed MCDN terminal device. If theuser is authorized, the instructions may be executable to route theremote control message to the addressed MCDN terminal device. In someinstances, the identity may not be authorized to access the selectedMCDN terminal device, irrespective of the remote control function. Ifthe status in the MCDN terminal device changes, the instructions may beexecutable to transmit status change information in the MCDN terminaldevice to the paired LAN device.

In certain implementations, the instructions executable to determine theidentity may further include instructions executable to query an MCDNserver for an MCDN user account associated with an identifier for theLAN device. In certain implementations, further instructions executableto selectively de-pair the LAN device from the MCDN terminal device maybe included.

In the following description, details are set forth by way of example tofacilitate discussion of the disclosed subject matter. It should beapparent to a person of ordinary skill in the field, however, that thedisclosed embodiments are exemplary and not exhaustive of all possibleembodiments.

Throughout this disclosure, a hyphenated form of a reference numeralrefers to a specific instance of an element and the un-hyphenated formof the reference numeral refers to the element generically orcollectively. Thus, for example, widget 12-1 refers to an instance of awidget class, which may be referred to collectively as widgets 12 andany one of which may be referred to generically as a widget 12.

Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustratingselected elements of an embodiment of MCDN 100. Although multimediacontent is not limited to TV, video on demand (VOD), or pay-per-view(PPV) programs, the depicted embodiments of MCDN 100 and itscapabilities are primarily described herein with reference to thesetypes of multimedia content, which are interchangeably referred toherein as “multimedia content”, “multimedia content programs”,“multimedia programs” or, simply, “programs.”

The elements of MCDN 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 depict networkembodiments with functionality for delivering multimedia content to aset of one or more subscribers. It is noted that different embodimentsof MCDN 100 may include additional elements or systems (not shown inFIG. 1 for clarity) as desired for additional functionality, such asdata processing systems for billing, content management, customersupport, operational support, or other business applications.

As depicted in FIG. 1, MCDN 100 includes one or more clients 120 and aservice provider 121. Each client 120 may represent a differentsubscriber of MCDN 100. In FIG. 1, a plurality of n clients 120 isdepicted as client 120-1, client 120-2 to client 120-n, where n may be alarge number. Service provider 121 as depicted in FIG. 1 encompassesresources to acquire, process, and deliver programs to clients 120 viaaccess network 130. Such elements in FIG. 1 of service provider 121include content acquisition resources 180 connected to switching network140 via backbone network 170, as well as application server 150,database server 190, mobile content management server 162, and contentdelivery server 160, also shown connected to switching network 140.

Access network 130 demarcates clients 120 and service provider 121, andprovides at least one connection path between clients 120 and serviceprovider 121. In some embodiments, access network 130 is an Internetprotocol (IP) compliant network. In some embodiments, access network 130is, at least in part, a coaxial cable network. It is noted that in someembodiments of MCDN 100, access network 130 is owned and/or operated byservice provider 121. In other embodiments, a third party may own and/oroperate at least a portion of access network 130.

In IP-compliant embodiments of access network 130, access network 130may include a physical layer of unshielded twisted pair cables, fiberoptic cables, or a combination thereof. MCDN 100 may include digitalsubscriber line (DSL) compliant twisted pair connections between clients120 and a node (not depicted) in access network 130 while fiber, cableor another broadband medium connects service provider resources to thenode. In other embodiments, the broadband cable may extend all the wayto clients 120.

As depicted in FIG. 1, switching network 140 provides connectivity forservice provider 121, and may be housed in a central office or otherfacility of service provider 121. Switching network 140 may providefirewall and routing functions to demarcate access network 130 from theresources of service provider 121. In embodiments that employ DSLcompliant connections, switching network 140 may include elements of aDSL Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) that multiplexes many subscriber DSLs tobackbone network 170.

In FIG. 1, backbone network 170 represents a private network including,as an example, a fiber based network to accommodate high data transferrates. Content acquisition resources 180 as depicted in FIG. 1 encompassthe acquisition of various types of content including broadcast content,other “live” content including national content feeds, and VOD content.

Thus, the content provided by service provider 121 encompassesmultimedia content that is scheduled in advance for viewing by clients120 via access network 130. Such multimedia content, also referred toherein as “scheduled programming,” may be selected using an electronicprogramming guide (EPG), such as EPG 316 described below with respect toFIG. 3. Accordingly, a user of MCDN 100 may be able to browse scheduledprogramming well in advance of the broadcast date and time. Somescheduled programs may be “regularly” scheduled programs, which recur atregular intervals or at the same periodic date and time (i.e., daily,weekly, monthly, etc.). Programs which are broadcast at short notice orinterrupt scheduled programs are referred to herein as “unscheduledprogramming.”

Acquired content is provided to content delivery server 160 via backbonenetwork 170 and switching network 140. Content may be delivered fromcontent delivery server 160 to clients 120 via switching network 140 andaccess network 130. Content may be compressed, encrypted, modulated,demodulated, and otherwise encoded or processed at content acquisitionresources 180, content delivery server 160, or both. Although FIG. 1depicts a single element encompassing acquisition of all content,different types of content may be acquired via different types ofacquisition resources. Similarly, although FIG. 1 depicts a singlecontent delivery server 160, different types of content may be deliveredby different servers. Moreover, embodiments of MCDN 100 may includecontent acquisition resources in regional offices that are connected toswitching network 140.

Although service provider 121 is depicted in FIG. 1 as having switchingnetwork 140 to which content acquisition resources 180, content deliveryserver 160, and application server 150 are connected, other embodimentsmay employ different switching networks for each of these functionalcomponents and may include additional functional components (notdepicted in FIG. 1) including, for example, operational subsystemsupport (OSS) resources.

FIG. 1 also illustrates application server 150 connected to switchingnetwork 140. As suggested by its name, application server 150 may hostor otherwise implement one or more applications for MCDN 100.Application server 150 may be any data processing system with associatedsoftware that provides applications for clients or users. Applicationserver 150 may provide services including multimedia content services,e.g., EPGs, digital video recording (DVR) services, VOD programs, PPVprograms, IPTV portals, digital rights management (DRM) servers,navigation/middleware servers, conditional access systems (CAS), andremote diagnostics, as examples.

Applications provided by application server 150 may be downloaded andhosted on other network resources including, for example, contentdelivery server 160, switching network 140, and/or on clients 120.Application server 150 is configured with a processor and storage media(not shown in FIG. 1) and is enabled to execute processor instructions,such as those included within a software application. As depicted inFIG. 1, application server 150 may be configured to include variousapplications (not shown in FIG. 1), which may provide network servicesrelated to the distribution and viewing of multimedia content.

Further depicted in FIG. 1 is database server 190, which provideshardware and software resources for data warehousing. Database server190 may communicate with other elements of the resources of serviceprovider 121, such as application server 150 or content delivery server160, in order to store and provide access to large volumes of data,information, or multimedia content. In some embodiments, database server190 includes a data warehousing application, accessible via switchingnetwork 140, that can be used to record and access structured data, suchas program or channel metadata for clients 120. Database server 190 mayalso store device information, such as identifiers for client 120, andidentifiers for various types of devices.

Turning now to FIG. 2, clients 120 are shown in additional detail withrespect to access network 130. Clients 120 may include networkappliances collectively referred to herein as CPE 122. In the depictedembodiment, CPE 122 includes the following devices: gateway (GW) 123,multimedia handling device (MHD) 125, and display device 126. Anycombination of GW 123, MHD 125, and display device 126 may be integratedinto a single physical device. Thus, for example, CPE 122 might includea single physical device that integrates GW 123, MHD 125, and displaydevice 126. As another example, MHD 125 may be integrated into displaydevice 126, while GW 123 is housed within a physically separate device.

In FIG. 2, GW 123 provides connectivity for client 120 to access network130. GW 123 provides an interface and conversion function between accessnetwork 130 and client-side LAN 124. GW 123 may include elements of aconventional DSL or cable modem. GW 123, in some embodiments, mayfurther include routing functionality for routing multimedia content,conventional data content, or a combination of both in compliance withIP or another network layer protocol. In some embodiments, LAN 124 mayencompass or represent an IEEE 802.3 (Ethernet) LAN, an IEEE 802.11-type(WiFi) LAN, or a combination thereof. GW 123 may still further includeWiFi or another type of wireless access point to extend LAN 124 towireless-capable devices in proximity to GW 123. GW 123 may also providea firewall (not depicted) between clients 120 and access network 130.

Clients 120 as depicted in FIG. 2 further include a display device or,more simply, a display 126. Display 126 may be implemented as a TV, aliquid crystal display screen, a computer monitor, or the like. Display126 may comply with a display standard such as National TelevisionSystem Committee (NTSC), Phase Alternating Line (PAL), or anothersuitable standard. Display 126 may include one or more integratedspeakers to play audio content.

Clients 120 are further shown with their respective remote control 128,which is configured to control the operation of MHD 125 by means of auser interface (not shown in FIG. 2) displayed on display 126. Remotecontrol 128 of client 120 is operable to communicate requests orcommands wirelessly to MHD 125 using infrared (IR) or radio frequency(RF) signals. MHDs 125 may also receive requests or commands via buttons(not depicted) located on side panels of MHDs 125. In some embodiments,remote control 128 may be operable to configure remote viewing ofmultimedia content, and/or to activate remote viewing of multimediacontent, as will be described in detail below.

MHD 125 is enabled and configured to process incoming multimedia signalsto produce audio and visual signals suitable for delivery to display 126and any optional external speakers (not depicted). Incoming multimediasignals received by MHD 125 may be compressed and/or encrypted, digitalor analog, packetized for delivery over packet switched embodiments ofaccess network 130 or modulated for delivery over cable-based accessnetworks. In some embodiments, MHD 125 may be implemented as astand-alone set-top box suitable for use in a coaxial or IP-basedmultimedia content delivery network.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a block diagram illustrating selected elementsof an embodiment of MHD 125 is presented. In FIG. 3, MHD 125 is shown asa functional component of CPE 122 along with GW 123 and display 126,independent of any physical implementation, as discussed above withrespect to FIG. 2. In particular, it is noted that CPE 122 may be anycombination of GW 123, MHD 125 and display 126.

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3, MHD 125 includes processor 301coupled via shared bus 302 to storage media collectively identified asstorage 310. MHD 125, as depicted in FIG. 3, further includes networkadapter 320 that interfaces MHD 125 to LAN 124 and through which MHD 125receives multimedia content 360. GW 123 is shown providing a bridgebetween access network 130 and LAN 124, and receiving multimedia content360 from access network 130.

In embodiments suitable for use in IP-based content delivery networks,MHD 125, as depicted in FIG. 3, may include transport unit 330 thatassembles the payloads from a sequence or set of network packets into astream of multimedia content. In coaxial-based access networks, contentmay be delivered as a stream that is not packet based and it may not benecessary in these embodiments to include transport unit 330. In acoaxial implementation, however, clients 120 may require tuningresources (not explicitly depicted in FIG. 3) to “filter” desiredcontent from other content that is delivered over the coaxial mediumsimultaneously and these tuners may be provided in MHDs 125. The streamof multimedia content received by transport unit 330 may include audioinformation and video information and transport unit 330 may parse orsegregate the two to generate video stream 332 and audio stream 334 asshown.

Video and audio streams 332 and 334, as output from transport unit 330,may include audio or video information that is compressed, encrypted, orboth. A decoder unit 340 is shown as receiving video and audio streams332 and 334 and generating native format video and audio streams 342 and344. Decoder 340 may employ any of various widely distributed videodecoding algorithms including any of the Motion Pictures Expert Group(MPEG) standards, or Windows Media Video (WMV) standards including WMV9, which has been standardized as Video Codec-1 (VC-1) by the Society ofMotion Picture and Television Engineers. Similarly decoder 340 mayemploy any of various audio decoding algorithms including Dolby®Digital, Digital Theatre System (DTS) Coherent Acoustics, and WindowsMedia Audio (WMA).

The native format video and audio streams 342 and 344 as shown in FIG. 3may be processed by encoders/digital-to-analog converters(encoders/DACs) 350 and 370 respectively to produce analog video andaudio signals 352 and 354 in a format compliant with display 126, whichitself may not be a part of MHD 125. Display 126 may comply with NTSC,PAL or any other suitable television standard.

Storage 310 encompasses persistent and volatile media, fixed andremovable media, and magnetic and semiconductor media. Storage 310 isoperable to store instructions, data, or both. Storage 310 as shown mayinclude sets or sequences of instructions, namely, an operating system312, a remote control application program identified as RC module 314,and EPG 316. Operating system 312 may be a UNIX or UNIX-like operatingsystem, a Windows® family operating system, or another suitableoperating system. In some embodiments, storage 310 is configured tostore and execute instructions provided as services to client 120 byapplication server 150, as mentioned previously.

EPG 316 represents a guide to the multimedia content provided to client120 via MCDN 100, and may be shown to the user as an element of the userinterface. The user interface may include a plurality of menu itemsarranged according to one or more menu layouts, which enable a user tooperate MHD 125. The user may operate the user interface, including EPG316, using remote control 128 (see FIG. 2) in conjunction with RC module314.

Local transceiver 308 represents an interface of MHD 125 forcommunicating with external devices, such as remote control 128, oranother device. Local transceiver 308 may provide a mechanical interfacefor coupling to an external device, such as a plug, socket, or otherproximal adapter. In some cases, local transceiver 308 may be a wirelesstransceiver, configured to send and receive IR or RF or other signals.In particular embodiments, local transceiver 308 may be accessed by RCmodule 314 for providing remote control functionality. As will bedescribed in detail below, certain embodiments of RC module 314 may beconfigured to receive remote control commands for MHD 125 via GW 123from a LAN device (not shown in FIG. 3) coupled to LAN 124.

Turning now to FIG. 4, one embodiment of CPE 422, including selectedelements of a detailed embodiment of GW 123, is shown. In FIG. 4, GW 123is shown as a functional component of CPE 422 along with personalcomputer 404, local wireless router 406, MHDs 125-1 and 125-2, anddisplays 126-1 and 126-2. It is noted that CPE 422 may represent oneembodiment of CPE 122 (see FIGS. 2-3). The elements depicted in CPE 422may be arranged independent of any physical implementation, as discussedabove with respect to FIGS. 2-3. In particular, it is noted that CPE 422may be embodied as any physical or mechanical combination of GW 123, MHD125 and display 126, or other elements. It further is noted that likenumbered elements depicted in FIG. 4 represent identical elements inFIGS. 1-3.

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 4, GW 123 includes processor 401coupled via shared bus 402 to storage media collectively identified asstorage 410. GW 123, as depicted in FIG. 4, further includes WAN adapter420 that interfaces GW 123 to access network 130 and through which GW123 receives multimedia content 360. GW 123 is further shown coupled toLAN 424 via LAN adapter 422, thereby providing connectivity to otherdevices included with CPE 422, as will be discussed in further detailbelow. GW 123 may so serve as a bridge between access network 130 andLAN 424, while receiving multimedia content 360 from access network 130.As will be described in further detail, the bridge functionality of GW123 may include forwarding remote control messages to “MCDN terminaldevice(s)”, which, as used herein, refers to MHD devices configured toreceive and display multimedia content via the MCDN, and configured tobe remotely controlled. MCDN terminal devices may include MHD 125-1which is depicted as a set-top box in FIG. 4 and MHD 125-2 which isdepicted as a gaming console in FIG. 4. As referred to herein, a “LANdevice” is a personal device associated with a user that is configuredfor LAN connectivity and configured to store and execute programinstructions.

Storage 410 encompasses persistent and volatile media, fixed andremovable media, and magnetic and semiconductor media. Storage 410 isoperable to store instructions, data, or both. Storage 410 as shown mayinclude sets or sequences of instructions, namely, an operating system412, and remote control (RC) bridge application 418. Operating system412 may be a UNIX or UNIX-like operating system, a Windows® familyoperating system, or another suitable operating system. In someembodiments, storage 410 is configured to store and execute instructionsprovided as services to client 120 by application server 150, asmentioned previously. RC bridge application 418 may implement the bridgefunctionality of GW 123 for remote control by facilitating communicationbetween LAN devices and MCDN terminal devices.

Local transceiver 408 represents an interface of GW 123 for directlycommunicating with external devices, such as remote control 128, oranother device. Local transceiver 408 may provide a mechanical interfacefor coupling to an external device, such as a plug, socket, or otherproximal adapter. In some cases, local transceiver 408 may be a wirelesstransceiver, configured to send and receive IR or RF or other signals.

LAN 424 may represent a fixed network, a wireless network, or acombination thereof. LAN 424 may represent an exemplary embodiment ofLAN 124 (see FIGS. 2-3). In certain embodiments, local transceiver 408and/or LAN adapter 422 may provide connectivity for and/or be incommunication with LAN 424. LAN 424 may provide network services forinterconnecting a number of devices, which may be located at a premisesof an MCDN customer. As shown in CPE 422, an exemplary implementation ofLAN 424 provides network connectivity for a number of different types ofLAN devices and MCDN terminal devices, such as personal computer 404,local wireless router 406, MHD 125-1 (set-top box), and MHD 125-2(gaming console).

Personal computer 404 may represent at least one personal computercoupled to GW 123 for the purpose of obtaining wide-area network accessvia access network 130. Personal computer 404 may also serve as a LANdevice for emulating remote control application. In one embodiment,personal computer 404 is provided network access to the Internet with anMCDN account using service provider 121 (see FIG. 1). Local wirelessrouter 406 may serve as a bridge to a wireless network segment at thepremises where CPE 422 is located, and may include wireless networkingcomponents to establish the wireless network segment. Local wirelessrouter 406 may provide connectivity to LAN 424 for various types of LANdevices, such as, but not limited to, wireless communications devices,imaging devices, cameras, portable media players, personal wirelessdevices, and personal computers. MHD 125-1 may be a set-top box andserve as an MCDN terminal device coupled to TV/display 126-1, andrepresent an embodiment of television device, such as an IPTV device(see FIGS. 2-3). MHD 125-2 may be a gaming console and may serve as anMCDN terminal device representing a system for playing multimedia gamesand may be coupled to TV/display 126-2.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a block diagram illustrating selected elementsof an embodiment of MCDN system 500 is presented. MCDN system 500 isshown with selected elements for providing remote control functionality.It is noted that like numbered elements depicted in FIG. 5 representidentical elements in FIGS. 1-4.

In MCDN system 500, access network 130 represents a client side of theMCDN client server model, as presented in FIG. 1. Access network 130 isshown coupled to GW 123, representing equipment associated with one of aplurality of MCDN clients (not shown in FIG. 5).

On the MCDN client side, GW 123 is shown coupled to LAN 424 (see alsoFIG. 4) for providing connectivity to a number of MCDN terminal devices.LAN 424 is shown for clarity in MCDN system 500 having two segments: LAN424-1 depicts a LAN segment connecting a number of MCDN terminaldevices, while LAN 424-2 depicts a LAN segment connecting exemplary LANdevices.

In MCDN system 500, LAN 424-1 is directly coupled to the followingrepresentative MCDN terminal devices: MHD with television device 525-1,gaming console with display 525-2, and MHD with television device 525-3.It is noted that GW 123 may be configured to route information via LAN424-1 to a particular MCDN terminal device based on a network address(not shown in FIG. 5). For example, such a network address may allow GW123 to distinguish MHD with television device 525-1 from MHD withtelevision device 525-3, even though these devices may both be instancesof the same device type such as set-top boxes. While LAN 424-1 is shownrepresenting MCDN terminal devices at a single MCDN client location, itwill be understood that access network 130 is configured to provideconnectivity to a plurality of MCDN client sites with various numbersand types of MCDN terminal devices.

In FIG. 5, LAN 424-2 is shown providing a fixed network connection topersonal computer 404, which is shown as a LAN device. LAN 424-2 is alsodepicted in MCDN system 500 coupled to local wireless router 406, which,in turn, may provide connectivity to mobile electronic device 512 vialocal wireless network 508, representing another LAN device accessibleby GW 123. Local wireless network 508 may substantially conform to anyone or more wireless network standards, such as an IEEE 802.11 LANstandard (WiFi), an IEEE 802.15. personal area network (PAN) standard(Bluetooth), or an IEEE 802.15.4 mesh network standard (ZigBee). Mobileelectronic device 512 may represent a wireless communication device, aportable media player, an imaging device, a multimedia display device,or a mobile device with various combined features. Personal computer 404and mobile electronic device 512 are shown configured to execute remotecontrol emulation 510-1 and 510-2, respectively. Remote controlemulation 510 may represent executable instructions to emulatefunctionality provided by a dedicated remote control, such as RC 128(see FIG. 2). In certain embodiments, remote control emulation 510 mayprovide functionality, such as, but not limited to: alphanumeric textinput, configurable menu control, configurable control elements, storageof user preferences, and access to MCDN servers and MCDN account data.For example, remote control emulation 510 may be configured to accessand display user settings for an MCDN account.

In operation, GW 123 may be configured to transmit, or stream,multimedia content to a number of different kinds of MCDN terminaldevices, including MHD with television device 525-1 and 525-2, as wellas gaming console with display 516. Such MCDN terminal devices may beconfigured to display the multimedia content. In certain embodiments, aterminal service (not shown in FIG. 5) may execute on the MCDN terminaldevice for receiving and displaying the multimedia content.

GW 123 may further be configured to identify a user associated with aLAN device, such as personal computer 404 and mobile electronic device512. The user may be identified based on an identifier for the LANdevice, or other information, such as MCDN account information. GW 123may determine whether the user is authorized to send remote controlcommands to an MCDN terminal device using a LAN device. GW 123 maycommunicate with an MCDN server, such as application server 150 (seeFIG. 1), for authorizing the user. In certain embodiments, the user maybe authorized to send certain remote control commands, while beingrestricted from sending other remote control commands. A user mayfurther be authorized to send remote control commands only to specifiedMCDN terminal devices.

In a further embodiment, GW 123 connected to LAN 424 may be able todetermine which LAN devices are capable of communicating with associatedMCDN terminal devices 525. In this embodiment, one or more LAN devicesmay be paired with one or more MCDN terminal devices 525 so that the LANdevices are authorized to send remote control commands to a particularMCDN terminal device 525 by way of RC bridge application 418 of GW 123for control of the associated MCDN terminal devices 525; while other LANdevices that are capable of communicating with one or more MCDN terminaldevices 525 are not paired, and thus, not authorized to send remotecontrol commands to a particular MCDN terminal device 525 associatedwith GW 123. In certain embodiments, all LAN devices capable ofcommunicating with a particular MCDN terminal device 525 may be pairedwith such MCDN terminal device 525. In other embodiments, all LANdevices capable of communicating with a particular MCDN terminal device525 may be paired with all MCDN terminal devices that are designatedwithin a particular LAN (such as all MCDN terminal devices 525 connectedto a specified network). In further embodiments, the pairing of a LANdevice to one or more MCDN terminal devices 525 may be restricted tocertain authorized users of the LAN device. In some embodiments, remotecontrol commands sent by LAN devices emulate remote control commandsthat would be sent by a standard infrared or radio controlled remotecontrol configured to control the applicable MCDN terminal device. Inother embodiments, remote control commands sent by LAN devices arecapable of directly setting the desired state in the applicable MCDNterminal device by way by way of RC bridge application 418 of GW 123.

Once paired, MCDN terminal device 525 is configured to communicatestatus (or state) information to any or all LAN devices to which it ispaired. In this way, should current status information for MCDN terminaldevice 525 change (for example, delivery of applicable multimediacontent has been paused), the current status of MCDN terminal devices525 (in this example, that the delivery of applicable multimedia contenthas been paused) would be communicated to applicable LAN devices pairedto the MCDN terminal devices 525. In one embodiment, MCDN terminaldevices 525 is configured to multicast status change information overthe applicable networks to which it is connected and each LAN device isconfigured to listen for status change information. In this way, a LANdevice paired with a particular MCDN terminal devices 525 would listenfor status change information from the particular MCDN terminal devices525. Status change information would be multicast as soon as change instatus occurred. When initially paired, the LAN device would obtain thecurrent status information from the particular MCDN terminal devices525.

It will be appreciated that instances may occur where it may no longerbe desirable for a particular LAN device to be paired with a particularMCDN terminal devices 525. In one embodiment, a menu may be presented toa user of a LAN device by way of display 126-1 or a display connected tothe LAN device to de-couple or un-pair the particular LAN device fromthe applicable MCDN terminal devices 525. In another embodiment, whilethe LAN device may automatically be de-coupled in response to beingdisconnected from the network, the LAN device would automatically bere-paired in response to being re-connected to the network.

In this way, personal computer 404 and mobile electronic device 512 maybe selectively paired, and later may be selectively un-paired, with anyof MCDN terminal devices 525 so as, for example, to send remote controlcommands by way of RC bridge application 418 of GW 123 to MCDN terminaldevice 525-1. Should personal computer 404 send a remote control commandby way of RC bridge application 418 of GW 123 to MCDN terminal device525-1, MCDN terminal device 525 would communicate with mobile electronicdevice 512 so as to inform mobile electronic device 512 of the currentstatus of MCDN terminal device 525-1 following receipt of the remotecontrol command from personal computer 404. Thus, if personal computer404 were to send a command to pause the delivery of multimedia contentto MCDN terminal device 525-1, mobile electronic device 512 would beaware of the current status of MCDN terminal device 525-1 such that auser of mobile electronic device 512 would know that the delivery ofmultimedia content to MCDN terminal device 525-1 had been paused. Inthis way, the embodiment synchronizes each LAN device paired with anapplicable MCDN terminal devices 525. It will be appreciated, that suchsynchronization may be selectively enabled so that only designated LANdevices are synchronized. It will be appreciated that in order tofacilitate the selective pairing, un-pairing, and synchronization of LANdevices with a MCDN terminal device 525, a user selectable name may beassociated with one or more of the applicable LAN devices.

After authorization and while paired, the user may then send a remotecontrol command to control a desired MCDN terminal device. GW 123 maythen determine a LAN network address of a desired (i.e., user selected)MCDN terminal device, and forward the remote control command to theaddressed MCDN terminal device. It is noted that GW 123 may beconfigured to address a plurality of MCDN terminal devices, for example,by communicating with a plurality of LAN devices. Sending the remotecontrol command to the MCDN terminal device may cause the MCDN terminaldevice to execute a remote control function associated with the remotecontrol command. The remote control function may include selecting adesired multimedia program for at least one of recording, scheduling,and viewing, among others. The remote control function may includemultimedia handling capabilities provided by the MCDN. In this manner,the user may be provided with remote control functionality to remotelycontrol the MCDN terminal device using the LAN device. The LAN devicemay be a personal device in possession of the user. The remote controlfunctionality described above may be implemented in GW 123, for exampleby RC bridge application 418, in conjunction with remote controlemulation 510.

Turning now to FIG. 6, one embodiment of selected elements of mobileelectronic device 512, representing an example embodiment of a LANdevice, is shown. The elements depicted in mobile electronic device 512may be arranged independent of any physical implementation, as discussedabove with respect to FIGS. 2-3. In particular, it is noted that mobileelectronic device 512 may be embodied as any physical or mechanicalcombination with display 612, or other elements. It further is notedthat like numbered elements depicted in FIG. 6 represent identicalelements in FIGS. 1-3.

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 6, mobile electronic device 512includes processor 601 coupled via shared bus 602 to storage mediacollectively identified as storage 610. Mobile electronic device 512, asdepicted in FIG. 6, further includes wireless LAN adapter 620 thatinterfaces mobile electronic device 512 to wireless LAN 508 (see FIG. 5)and through which mobile electronic device 512 may send remote controlcommands for MCDN terminal devices. Mobile electronic device 512 isfurther shown with IR transceiver 608, which may be used to directlycommunicate with a remote-controlled device, such as an MCDN terminaldevice.

Also shown in mobile electronic device 512 is RF transceiver 604, whichmay be used to access a communications network, such as a wireless WAN(not shown in FIG. 6). In certain embodiments, mobile electronic device512 may be configured to provide wireless telephony services, and may beserviced by a cellular wireless network. Accordingly, mobile electronicdevice 512 may include a subscriber identity module (SIM) 606 which maystore a unique subscriber identity for providing service on a wirelessWAN using RF transceiver 604.

In FIG. 6, mobile electronic device 512 may still further includedisplay 612, which may provide a user interface and may also be used todisplay multimedia content. In certain embodiments, display 612 mayinclude touch functionality, such as an embedded touch screen, forreceiving user input.

Storage 610 encompasses persistent and volatile media, fixed andremovable media, and magnetic and semiconductor media. Storage 610 isoperable to store instructions, data, or both. Storage 610 as shown mayinclude sets or sequences of instructions, namely, an operating system614, and remote control emulation 510. Operating system 614 may be aUNIX or UNIX-like operating system, a Windows® family operating system,or another suitable operating system. Remote control emulation 510 maydisplay an emulation of a remote control device on display 612, whichmay be used to send remote control commands via wireless LAN adapter 620to GW 123 (not shown in FIG. 6). Storage 610 may further storealphanumeric interface 616 which may be used by remote control emulation510 to provide a user interface. Alphanumeric interface 616 may enableemulation of various user interfaces, such as buttons, knobs, or even afull QWERTY keyboard and/or numeric keypads for facilitating input ofdescriptive text and other alphanumeric input.

Turning now to FIG. 7, an embodiment of method 700 for remote control ispresented in flow chart form. It is noted that method 700 may beexecuted by RC bridge application 418 and/or remote control emulation510 (see FIGS. 5-6). In some embodiments, method 700 may further beexecuted, at least in part, by application server 150 (see FIG. 1). Itis further noted that operations in method 700 may be rearranged oromitted, as desired.

A LAN connection to a LAN device from a CPE gateway to the MCDN terminaldevice may be established (operation 702). The LAN connection may be awireless LAN connection, while the LAN device may be a mobile personaldevice. Communication between the LAN device and the MCDN terminaldevice may be encrypted. An identity of a user of the LAN device may bedetermined (operation 704). The user may be identified using anidentifier associated with the LAN device. The user may be identifiedusing MCDN account information, for example, by querying an MCDN serverusing a WAN adapter of the CPE gateway for an MCDN user account. Incertain embodiments, the MCDN user account is associated with anidentifier for the LAN device. The identity may include an indicationwhether the user is authorized to send remote control messages and/or tocontrol MCDN terminal devices.

A determination may be made whether the identity is authorized to sendthe remote control message to the addressed MCDN terminal device(operation 706). If the result of operation 706 is NO, then the LANdevice is not paired with the MCDN terminal device (operation 722). Ifthe result of operation 706 is YES, then an MCDN terminal device forexecuting the remote control function may be selected for pairing withthe LAN device (operation 708) and the MCDN terminal device is pairedwith the LAN device (operation 710). Selecting the MCDN terminal devicemay include determining a network address for the MCDN terminal device.While paired, a remote control message for a remote control function ofan MCDN terminal device may be received from the LAN device (operation712). The remote control message may be sent to the paired MCDN terminaldevice (operation 714). The remote control message may be sent by theLAN device in response to user input received by the LAN device. Theuser input may be provided during user interaction with a remote controlemulation executing on the LAN device. The remote control message mayinclude an alphanumeric user input. The remote control message mayemulate remote control commands that would be sent by a standardinfrared or radio controlled remote control configured to control aparticular MCDN terminal device. In other instances, the remote controlmessage may be capable of directly setting the desired state in theapplicable MCDN terminal device to which it is directed. In certainembodiments, the remote control message received in operation 712 mayinclude an indication, or a network address, for the MCDN terminaldevice. As a result of sending the message in operation 714, the MCDNterminal device may be caused to execute the remote control function(operation 716), whereupon the state of the MCDN terminal device willchange accordingly. As a result of the state of the MCDN terminal devicechanging, the changed status (or state) information for the MCDNterminal device may be communicated to any or all paired LAN devices sothat applicable LAN devices would obtain the current status (or state)information regarding the MCDN terminal device (operation 718).Following a determination to de-pair (or decouple) a LAN device, theapplicable LAN device would no longer be paired (operation 720).

To the maximum extent allowed by law, the scope of the presentdisclosure is to be determined by the broadest permissibleinterpretation of the following claims and their equivalents, and shallnot be restricted or limited to the specific embodiments described inthe foregoing detailed description.

1. A method for enabling a user to remotely control multimedia contentreceived over a multimedia content distribution network (MCDN),comprising: after a local-area network (LAN) connection between a LANdevice and a customer premises equipment (CPE) gateway to the MCDN hasbeen established, pairing the LAN device to an MCDN terminal devicecoupled to the CPE gateway and receiving, from the LAN device, a remotecontrol message addressed to the MCDN terminal device, wherein theremote control message indicates a remote control function executable bythe MCDN terminal device; and processing the remote control message,said processing including sending the remote control message to theaddressed MCDN terminal device.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein theLAN device is a personal computer.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein theLAN device is a mobile electronic device.
 4. The method of claim 1,wherein the CPE gateway is configured to receive and process remotecontrol messages addressed to more than one MCDN terminal device coupledto the CPE gateway.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the MCDN terminaldevice is a multimedia-handling device coupled to a display device. 6.The method of claim 1, wherein the remote control function includesselecting a desired multimedia program for at least one of: recording,scheduling, and viewing.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the LANconnection is a fixed network connection or a wireless networkconnection.
 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising: transmittingstatus change information in the MCDN terminal device to the LAN device.9. The method of claim 1, further comprising: selectively de-pairing theLAN device from the MCDN terminal device.
 10. The method of claim 1,further comprising: determining an identity associated with a user ofthe LAN device; and wherein said processing further includes:authorizing the remote control message based on the determined identity.11. A customer premises equipment (CPE) gateway for use within a clientconfiguration of a multimedia content distribution network (MCDN),comprising: a processor; a local-area network (LAN) adapter; a wide-areanetwork (WAN) adapter coupled to an MCDN server; and memory mediaaccessible to the processor, including instructions executable by theprocessor to: determine an identity associated with a user of a LANdevice connected via the LAN adapter to the CPE gateway; in response tothe identity, pairing the LAN device to an MCDN terminal device coupledto the CPE gateway; receive, from the paired LAN device, a remotecontrol message indicative of a remote control function for the MCDNterminal; based in part on the identity, determine that the user isauthorized to control the MCDN terminal device; send the remote controlmessage to the MCDN terminal device; and communicate changes in thestate of the MCDN terminal device to the paired LAN device.
 12. The CPEgateway of claim 11, wherein the LAN device is a personal computer. 13.The CPE gateway of claim 11, wherein communications with the LAN deviceare encrypted.
 14. The CPE gateway of claim 11, further comprising: alocal wireless router, and wherein the LAN connection is a wirelessnetwork connection via the local wireless router.
 15. The CPE gateway ofclaim 14, wherein the wireless network connection substantially conformsto at least one wireless network standard defined by: IEEE 802.11, IEEE802.15.1, and IEEE 802.15.4
 16. The CPE gateway of claim 11, wherein theremote control message is configured to directly set the remote controlfunction in the MCDN terminal device.
 17. The CPE gateway of claim 11,wherein the remote control function includes selecting a desiredmultimedia program for at least one of: recording, scheduling, andviewing.
 18. The CPE gateway of claim 11, wherein said processorexecutable instructions to determine said identity further includeprocessor executable instructions to: use the WAN adapter to query theMCDN server for an MCDN user account associated with an identifier forthe LAN device.
 19. Computer-readable memory media, includinginstructions for remote control of multimedia content provided by amultimedia content distribution network (MCDN), said instructionsexecutable to: determine an identity associated with a user of a localarea network (LAN) device connected via the LAN adapter to a customerpremises equipment (CPE) gateway; based on the identity, pair the LANdevice to an MCDN terminal device coupled to the CPE gateway; receive,from the paired LAN device, a remote control message addressed to theMCDN terminal device, wherein the remote control message is indicativeof a remote control function for the MCDN terminal device; based in parton the identity, determine whether the user is authorized to execute theremote control function on the addressed MCDN terminal device; if theuser is authorized, route the remote control message to the addressedMCDN terminal device; and selectively de-pair the paired LAN device fromthe MCDN terminal device.
 20. The memory media of claim 19, furthercomprising instructions executable to: communicate changes in the stateof the MCDN terminal device to the paired LAN device.